Ok I wanted to update everyone with the pregnancy but also included my rheumy appt I had yesterday in this post to keep it less complicated lol

Baby is great. :) She is 1lb 2ozs and the placenta has not changed at all, fluid levels are great and so is the length of my cervix. I will be 24 weeks tomorrow. As far as right now they dont see any flags raised so my chance for premature birth is low. My water broke with my son at 27 weeks so I'll just be a little more relieved when I pass that! lol I will post a new profile pic of her when I get the chance. I still have to have a c-section though because of my state laws..ehh.

As for the rheumy appt, even though ive been having flare symptoms they do not want to put me on prednisone during the pregnancy unless it gets severe because it can increase the risk for a preterm birth. That is probably what I will go on after I have the baby though so I can still breastfeed. She doesn't think the Plaquenil is doing much for me and neither do I. I dont have to see her again until 6 months which will be December 9th(the 2-3 months when you usually see flaring from hormone fluctuations). What she did mention was after the baby is born, she has been thinking about me a lot and my symptoms and wants me to get checked for IBD(inflammatory bowel disease)and get a colonscopy & endoscopy on top of the mri/mra w/ & w/out contrast dye for the seizure evaluation. I have been doing some research on this but wanted opinions from people on here who have it or know about it and what the diagnostic criteria are and what treatments are used for this? As of right now I kind of cross between Lupus & IBD but dont technically fit the criteria for either according to my rheumy. Although if you look at the diagnostic criteria for Lupus, I have the following(all the x's are what I have):

Clinical Criteria for Diagnosing Lupus:4 or more of these 11 symptoms will help determine diagnosis. Recently, a new Lupus diagnosis criteria was adopted requiring 3 of 10 symptoms similar to the ones below, and appropriate screening of Anti-Nuclear Antibodies (ANA) blood test to make final diagnosis.

Criterion Definition Malar Rash: Rash over the cheeks (X) Discoid Rash: Red raised patches Photosensitivity: Reaction to sunlight, resulting in the development of or increase in skin rash (X) Oral Ulcers: Ulcers in the nose or mouth, usually painless (X) Arthritis: Nonerosive arthritis involving two or more peripheral joints (arthritis in which the bones around the joints do not become destroyed) (X) Serositis: Pleuritis or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of the lung or heart) Renal Disorder: Excessive protein in the urine (greater than 0.5 gm/day or 3+ on test sticks) and/or cellular casts (abnormal elements the urine, derived from red and/or white cells and/or kidney tubule cells) NeurologicDisorder: Seizures (convulsions) and/or psychosis in the absence of drugs or metabolic disturbances which are known to cause such effects. (X) HematologicDisorder:Hemolytic anemia or leukopenia (white blood count below 4,000 cells per cubic millimeter) or lymphopenia (less than 1,500 lymphocytes per cubic millimeter) or thrombocytopenia (less than 100,000 platelets per cubic millimeter). The leukopenia and lymphopenia must be detected on two or more occasions. The thrombocytopenia must be detected in the absence of drugs known to induce it. AntinuclearAntibody:Positive test for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in the absence of drugs known to induce it. (X) ImmunologicDisorder:Positive anti-double stranded anti-DNA test, positive anti-Sm test, positive antiphospholipid antibody such as anticardiolipin, or false positive syphilis test (VDRL). Information provided by:www.lupus.org[b][/b]

Looks like enough to me but sometimes different drs want to "interpret" different ways!! So often we have to see 2-3 drs before getting the proper treatment -- *treatment* is much more important than the diagnosis!

Glad the baby is doing well.Lynnwood, Lupus & Sjogren's Moderator"Life is far too important to be taken seriously" - Oscar Wilde

I am glad that the baby is doing well. I really hope you get the help you need. I also have to add that they need to give you stress doses of steroids when the baby comes to avoid a flare almost immediately after the baby comes, especially if you are having a c-section.Dx:fibromyalgia 2002, systematic lupus 2005- definate CNS involvement dxed late 2005, psoriasis 2006, rheumatoid arthritis 2006, PTSD 2007, multiple allergies 2005, migraine, compression fractures T11 & T12, Sjögren's, damaged periphrial nerves 2007, exemaTx: plaquenil, Enbrel, Tramadol, Singulair, Skelaxin, Baby Asprin, Imuran, Prilosec, lasix, Evoxac, Celebrex, Darvocet when things get too bad, prednisone again, various vitamin/mineral supplements, cozar

"Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible." T. E. Lawrence

You've got a lot of the same symptoms as I have. I also have a positive RF and the discoid, or actually they act more like hives, awful when they act up. I just wanted you to know that come July 3 it will be 3 years since the birth of my son Joseph. He was s atrong healthy monster baby, born 8lbs 3oz and 20 in. He was also delivered by scheduled C-section with no problems. I breastfed him for 7 months on both Plaquenil and prednisone with no problems. His pediatrician's wife has Lupus and was very familiar with all the medication used in treatment of this disease. He was wonderful. I did have to eventually give up nursing at 7 months because my Rheumy wanted to try me on Imuran, but 7 months was a good run and weaniing went well, too. Best of luck to you and your precious bundle.

I'm greatful to hear of your wonderful experience with your son :) I am praying that mine will go as well as yours did. I was thinking I wanted to try breastfeeding for the first 6 months if I was able to. I did tell my rheumy that when I saw her so Im sure Ill be put on prednisone. At what point were you put ont he prednisone after you had him? A day after, a week, etc? She doesn't want to put me on it while pregnant unless absolutely necessary because of the risk for preterm birth and I already had that with my son in my previous pregnancy what will be 3 yrs ago June 18th. So we will see what happens with my daughter :) Thank you for the input! Hope you are well. Take care. -Britt*Lupie Britt*- Epilepsy Dx: 2003 & SLE Dx: 2009-Expecting Baby # 2! :)-Current Meds:Plaquenil-200mg 2x/day, Keppra-500mg 2x/day, Prenatal Vitamin- 1 pill/day, Folic Acid- 1mg 1x/day

I really can't remeber, but I think it wasn't until after he was born. It was probably a good thing, because I was an emotional mess with preggy hormonnes anyway, I can't imagine that increased by pred. I think when I did go on pred it was only like a 20mg quick taper and a daily dose. But I did immdeiately start Plaquenil, but it didn't really start working for me until about 4 mos later. But it was totally safe and I had no side effects at all from it.

Ok that makes sense. I have actually been on plaquenil since june of 2008 and it really has not done anything for me. That's why we are trying to figure out what the best type of treatment plan will be but want to keep it safe while I breastfeed. That's why were prob gonna have me stay on plaquenil and add pred after I deliver and then after I stop breastfeeding well choose another med so hopefully I either can take a really low dose of pred or stop taking it altogether. It kinda scares me all the new med stuff and possible flaring because I was just diagnosed with AI last year and it was really rough and I dont want to feel that way again although Im sure I will eventually. Thanks for the input though! Hope you are well. *hugs* -Lupie Britt*Lupie Britt*- Epilepsy Dx: 2003 & SLE Dx: 2009-Expecting Baby # 2! :)-Current Meds:Plaquenil-200mg 2x/day, Keppra-500mg 2x/day, Prenatal Vitamin- 1 pill/day, Folic Acid- 1mg 1x/day

Is anyone that's pregnant taking imuran I really need a feedback on this medication my doc recommended imuran plaquenil and when I see her in a few days she will say if i am to take prednisone I am 6 weeks pregnant and really confused about these meds.Would love some feedback thanks